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The Balochistan government has imposed a ban on night-time travel for public transport on major highways across multiple districts due to rising security threats, as per media reports.
According to Dawn News, Deputy Commissioners of Gwadar, Kachhi, Zhob, Noshki, and Musakhel issued official notifications, restricting public transport from traveling at night.
In Quetta, authorities barred public transport from departing the city after dark.
Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat told media, “It was decided that public transport would be prohibited from travelling on the Karachi-Quetta highway (N-25), also known as the RCD Highway, at night, disconnecting Balochistan from Sindh.”
Commissioner Quetta also directed buses and coaches owners to install functional CCTV cameras and tracking systems, ensuring compliance with security directives.
According to media reports, Gwadar DC Hamoodur Rehman announced that all public transport on the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) would be banned at night for passenger safety. The Kachhi DC’s order similarly restricted travel on the Quetta-Sukkur Highway (N-65) between 5pm and 5am.
The decision was made after a rise in terrorist attacks across Balochistan, including multiple incidents this year where passengers were targeted by the banned organizations.
Earlier this month, a group of armed men attacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Kach district, injuring the train driver and endangering over 400 passengers.
According to media reports, the train was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when assailants blew up a railway track and opened fire in the Peru Kanri area, Levies officials said. Security forces on board retaliated with heavy firing.
Later, the Pakistan Army took charge, eliminated all 33 terrorists, and rescued all passengers taken hostage during the attack.
The operation, which unfolded in Bolan on March 11, began after terrorists targeted the railway track, trapping over 400 passengers aboard the train.
According to DG ISPR, the terrorists used civilians as human shields, prolonging the standoff.
